Beniamtno ibelli



(No Model.)

B. IBELLI. COMBINATION TOOL.

Patented July 20, 1897.

iA Mim 01| I7 INVENTOH 6K3. @Maa/0' WIT/VESSES ATTORNEYS.

Noam; 51ans nu, vnovaurno wmummon, u r.

UNITnn STATES i PATENT Ormea.

BENIAMINO IBELLI, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

COMBINATION-TOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,849, dated July 20,1897.

Application led September 19, 1896. Serial No. 606,371. (No model.)

To (all '1n/mnt it 11M/.U concern,

Be it known that l, BENIAMINO IBELLI, of New York city, in the countyand State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedOombiiiationlool, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The invention relates to a novel combination-tool, and has for itsobject to provide a foldable measuring-rule with knife-blades and alsowith a spring-balance scale, so that a tool having triple functions isproduced, which is of very compact form and may be carried in avestpocket of the user.

The invention essentially consists in the peculiar construction andnovel combination of parts, as is hereinafter described, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the gures.

Figure l is a perspective view of a folding measuring-rule having theimprovements. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rule unfolded andexposing some of the features of improvement thereon. Fig. 3 is a sideview of the extended rule, having' one side wall removed and showingmore plainly the novel details of construction. Fig. 4 is a side view ofparts shown in Fig. 3, but in folded adjustment; and Fig. 5 is atransverse sectional view essentially on the line 5 in Fig. l.

In carrying into effect the features of improvement, as shown in thedrawings, a graduated rule is represented, which is of a style known assix-inch7 rules, the total length being adapted to measure one-half of afoot, United States standard, and is marked on the sides in inches andcorrect fractions of the same.

The rule is in two equal parts or limbs 10 l1, which are jointedtogether at one end of each limb, as at d, the said joint being adaptedto limit the iiexure of the limbs beyond a straight line when the ruleis opened for measuring more than three inches.

Ordinary graduated rules have solid limbs, which are usually colnposedof hard Wood, bone, or ivory. In the present construction, however, toadapt the rule to contain other parts each limb l0 l1 is renderedhollow, as will now be described.

The limb l0 consists in part of two [lat thin sides that are of equaldimensions, having parallel edges which extend throughout the length ofthe said sides, except that at the same end of each side plate acircular-edged leaf is produced, which leaves form outer members of therule-joint a when all parts of the rule are assembled.

The sides of the limb l0 are held spaced apart in parallel planes by oneor two resilient strips b, and if two of said strips are provided anintermediate plate c of equal dimensions to that of the outer sideplates is introduced between the pair of strips, and all the parts ofthe composite limb 10 are secured together by the transversely-disposedrivets d, that are inserted through alined perforations in the outerside plates, strips b, and intermediate plate c and riveted at theirends.

It will be seen that two open recesses are produced in the limb 10 bythe described construction of parts, and these are adapted for thereception of knife-blades 12, which are of the usual form, as indicatedin Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and are pivoted, as at e, between the outer sidesof the limb l0 and the back strips Z), that have a sufficient portion ofeach one left free to vibrate, and thus become springs for holding theblades, or either of them, open or closed.

Should it be preferred, but one blade l2 may be provided for the limb10, or more than two blades may be held therein, it being understoodthat a spring-strip b is provided for each blade and suitably secured inplace as a back wall for the rule-limb, of which it is a portion.

The limb ll for the foldable rule is also provided with two side platesthat equal in dimensions the sides of the limb l0, and the side platesof the limb l1 are spaced apart an equal distance with those of the limblO bya back bar g, secured between them by the rivets e near the ends ofthe said bar and having an integral leaf g laterally formed thereon,which leaf is of such proportionate thickness as will adapt it toloosely lit between the leaves on the side plates of the limb 10, andwhen these three leaves are jointed together by a central pintle a theycomplet-e the flexing-joint for the foldable rule.

In the recess produced by the back bar g,

IOO

ferred.

In a suitable aperture formed in the guideblock h a scale-bar 13 isloosely inserted and is connected at its inner end with one eX- tremityof the contractile spring 14, secured at its opposite end to the leafg', and the scalebar is completely incased within the recess it occupiesby securing a partition-wall 15 over said bar and in the recess of thelimb 1.1. The scale-bar 13 is suitably graduated on its sides to adaptit for weighing small articles, and, as plainly shown, said graduationsincrease in numerical value from the end of the bar which is farthestfrom the spring 14.

An offset s formed at z'- on the outer end of the scale-bar 13 toprevent the bar from being completely drawn into the chamber itoccupies, and on said projecting end of the bar a hook t" is provided,whereon articles to be weighed may be hung.

As the knife-blades 12, if of dimensions that adapt them for generaluse, may project at their backs out of the hollow limb 10, within whichthey are foldable, the ,space afforded within the limb 1l exterior ofthe partition 15 becomes available as a receptacle for the projectingback portions of the knife-blades when the members lO and 11 of the ruleare folded, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the rule then appearingas represented in Fig. 1.

As the plates that form the sides of the sections or limbs lO 1l of thefoldable rule are graduated on their outer faces, as clearly shown inFigs. 1 and 2, it will be evident that the composite tool is welladapted to serve as a measuring-rule, aknife, and weighing-scale, andwhen folded occupies but little room in the pocket of the personcarrying the same.

Having thus described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A rule formed of two sections hinged together tobe in alinement when opened, each section having a recess in one side,the recesses being in the sides of the sections that abut when the ruleis folded, the rear wall of the recess of one section being of resilientmaterial and free at its outer end, and a knifeblade hinged to the freeend of the section having a resilient rear wall in the recess thereofand with its pivot parallel with the pivot of the rule-sections, wherebywhen the blade is folded in the recess and the rule folded, the back ofthe blade will enter the recess of the other section of the rule,substantially as described.

2. A combinatioirtool, comprising a rule formed of two sections, hingedtogether to be in alinement when opened, one section being formed with arecess and the other with a recess and a chamber in rear of the recess,knifeblades hinged to the free end of one section with their pivotsparallel with the pivot of the sections, said blade being adapted tofold into the recess of its section and its back to enter the recess ofthe other section when the rule is folded, a scale-bar in the chamber ofthe other section, and aspring secured to the inner end of the bar andto the said section, substantially as described.

3. A combination-tool, comprising a rule formed of two sections hingedtogether, one section consisting of side plates having ears, and aresilient back bar free at its outer end, and the other section formedof side plates, a rigid back bar having an ear at its inner end andforming with the ears of the side plates of the other section themembers of the rulejoint, a guide-block, and a transverse partitionforming a rear chamber, knife-blades pivoted to the free end of onesection, a scalebar sliding in the chamber of the other section, and aspring secured to the inner end of the scale-bar and to the ear of theback bar of said section, substantially as herein shown and described.

BENIAMINO BELL'I.

Witnesses :n

Y FELICE SANITAF,

EMILIO CRISTIANI.

